The recent decision by the Israeli municipality in Jerusalem to approve the construction of thousands of housing units in Palestinian neighbourhoods has sparked significant alarm among local residents and advocacy groups. According to reports, the National Planning Committee has outlined plans for 2,200 settlement units across multiple projects, primarily targeting East Jerusalem areas.

One notable proposal involves the expansion of the "Nof Zion" settlement in Jabal al-Mukabbir, which is intended to accommodate ultra-Orthodox Jewish families, including provisions for a new synagogue. Additionally, a new settlement neighbourhood named "Nof Zahav" is set to be established within the same area, while the existing "Givat Shaked" settlement in Beit Safafa is also slated for expansion, with preliminary phases already receiving approval.

These developments come after a period of stagnation in settlement activity, coinciding with the political shift in the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump. Local Palestinian leaders are voicing concerns that these expansions undermine prospects for peace and threaten the already fragile demographic balance in East Jerusalem. The ongoing settlement efforts are seen as a further encroachment on Palestinian land and rights, exacerbating tensions in a region long marked by conflict.